2011 Reading Goal--Done!

Here in England, we have about an hour and a half until 2012, and I just completed my reading goal for 2011. When I was younger, I was a big reader, but in later years I found that I was spending so much time on the internet that I wasn't reading much at all. Because I want to be a reading example to my kids, I decided to take on a few reading challenges I saw on a blog about a year ago. The first goal was to read 100 books, and the second was to read 25 award-winning children's books. I decided that the 25 award books could be part of my 100, and the books could include children's book awards in both America and England. All 100 of my books had to be chapter books (I could read well over 100 if they were picture books). I so enjoyed completing this goal, that I'm going to do it again in 2012! Only this time, I'm going to make my challenge a bit different, though it will still be 100 books. Isaac is definitely a reader, too, which is good; otherwise, I would probably find him playing Mario games on the Wii a lot more than he should.

If you are at all interested in seeing what I read, click HERE (I keep a running list on my other blog). Keep in mind, however, that just because I read a book does not necessarily mean I liked it or approve of it. Most of them I loved, though!

I'm sure a lot of you have had goals you wanted to complete in a year. I had a photography goal--at least one photo a day and post them weekly on my other blog. However, even though I do take a LOT of photographs, that one got left behind. One thing I regret is not having a Bible reading goal. Maybe that's another good one for 2012. How about the 100-book reading challenge? Is anyone up for joining me?

Tot School: Weeks 8-13

Okay, it seems I’m down to doing monthly Tot School posts instead of weekly!  For some reason, I’m having a hard time keeping up with my blog this school year.  Anyway, here’s a run-down of some things Gabriela did from the end of October through most of November.

Tutti Frutti game—This is a really simple matching game but gives practice telling colors and fruits.

Outdoor Time—When the weather was still mild enough to play outside, Gabriela decided to collect sticks in a bucket.  She was very proud of herself!

Apple Theme—We worked on this theme for awhile.  I got some nice printables from 2 Teaching Mommies.

While doing the above counting apple seeds activity, Gabriela took the “7” card and ran over to Isaac’s workboxes and matched it to the “7” on his box.  She was quite pleased at her cleverness (as was I).

Field Trip to Plas Newydd in North Wales—This trip included a tour of the house (and a detailed study of a huge mural painted by British artist Rex Whistler), a walk around the grounds, a playground, and a Punch and Judy puppet show.

Dalmatian Dominoes—I just let her play with them however she wanted.

Puzzles!  For 3 weeks or more, Gabriela played with lots of puzzles.  She didn’t want to quit, so I kept challenging her with more difficult puzzles.  We began with LAURI puzzles, which all 3 of my children have enjoyed over the years.  Then we progressed to 24-pc puzzles and finally to 60-pc puzzles.  Initially I helped her with the 60-pc puzzles, but since she wanted to do them over and over again each day, it didn’t take her long until she was able to put them together completely by herself.   

The LAURI puzzles she did includes:  a cat with kittens, cars, butterflies, tugboat, dump truck, train, and airplane.

Games:  Chutes and Ladders, Connect 4, and Honey Bee Tree   

Letter E Activities  

Fall Sensory Tub—You can read more about it HERE.

Playing with tiny pumpkins and sorting them by color

Wedgits!  This has been a long-time favorite of all my kids.  One of these days, I’d like to expand, as we have only a 15-piece basic set and the cards.

Letter F Activities

Pumpkin and Turkey Pick Sort

Our Thanksgiving 5-a-Day books (which I never got around to posting about):

We did read other Thanksgiving stories, too, but those are the 5 I read each day all week—books with good rhymes and repetition.  She listened to the 10 Fat Turkeys book on CD.

I’m linking this post to “Tot School” at 1+1+1=1.

Christmas Sensory Tub

Last year, I used tinsel as a base for our Christmas sensory tub.  To date, that post has been my most popular blog post!  Despite all the views I had, Gabriela actually didn’t care for that tub at all.  This year, I decided to change it up a bit, and she really likes this one!  Hurray!

 

This year’s sensory tub is composed of:

Rice—I used food coloring to color some of the rice red and green, and I left the rest white.  I love it—it reminds me of sprinkles on Christmas cookies!

Foam stickers—Candy canes, gingerbread people and houses, reindeer, and Christmas trees

Mini Christmas bows

Mini Christmas ornaments

Mini bells (I tried jingle bells, but of course the rice kept getting stuck inside)

3 robins (European robin—big Christmas symbol here)

Pieces of tinsel—red, green and gold

A pompom reindeer pin

A gold-painted pinecone ornament

A scented candle (it’s cinnamon—I really would love peppermint or cookie scented, but I don’t have time to search for one—you have to go to the right places to find a good selection of small scented candles here)

The first time I presented this tub to Gabriela, she got tired of it really quickly, so I decided to add something for her to do. 

Additions:  Wooden scoop and plastic red flower cups

I'm linking this post to "More Sensory Tub Ideas" at Our Worldwide Classroom.